Working platform

ABSTRACT

The invention illustrates and describes a working platform which, for straightforward use in a vertical shaft, has a basic body, on which is provided a supporting means for support on a vertically running surface, and a working means, which is connected to the basic body by connecting means such that it can be moved between working positions.

The present invention relates to a working platform for drilling tools.

Working platforms are used wherever a floor is not suitable for bearing a tool, for example a drilling tool, or for bearing an operator for the tool. This may be due to the distance of the floor relative to the location at which the work is to be carried out. For example, the floor may be located so far beneath the working location that a tool positioned on this floor, or a tool held by an operator standing on this floor, cannot reach the working location. However, working platforms are also used where the floor is not suitable as a working base. For example, a floor may not be suitable for bearing heavy loads, with the result that a heavy tool positioned on the floor sinks into the floor. It is likewise possible for the floor to have properties which do not allow the tool to be set up reliably on the floor. Furthermore, the floor may have too smooth a surface for holding back, for example, a horizontally drilling tool to a sufficient extent.

Conventional working platforms have supporting means by way of which a working surface can be supported on the horizontal floor. These working platforms have the disadvantage that the supporting means have to be long enough in order, in the case of large distances between the floor and working location, to make the working surface available in the region of the working location. The length of the supporting means renders such working platforms unwieldy to transport and construct. Furthermore, the construction of these working platforms in shafts which are accessible from above involves high outlay.

In a large number of application areas, work has to be carried out on side surfaces of an essentially vertically running shaft. These shafts are usually accessible from above via a shaft opening and have a shaft floor at the opposite end. In order to construct a conventional working platform in such a shaft, it is necessary for the structural parts of the working platform to be moved downwards, through the entire shaft, onto the shaft floor.

In front of this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a working platform which can easily be used in a vertical shaft.

The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous configurations form the subject matter of the subclaims.

According to the invention, it is provided that the working platform has a basic body and supporting means for direct or indirect support on a vertically running surface. Since the working platform is now supported, for example, on a vertical surface, for example in the vicinity of the working location, rather than on the floor, the positioning of the working platform does not depend on the floor. The arrangement of the working platform thus does not depend on the distance of the floor from the working location. The platform may thus be of more compact configuration. Furthermore, construction of the working platform is simplified. The working platform according to the invention need only be lowered into the shaft, through the shaft opening, until it has reached the region of the working location. It can be positioned directly beneath this working location by support on the vertical surface, without the individual structural parts first of all having to be lowered onto the floor, which may possibly be located at a somewhat lower level. In addition, the stability of the working platform does not depend on the nature of the floor. Irrespective of whether the floor is load-bearing or not, in particular if it has become soft as result of moisture in a shaft or the shaft surrounds, the working platform according to the invention can provide a stable base for working on the side surfaces of the shaft. The working platform according to the invention is also suitable for use in trenches, for example for laying pipes using the burst lining method.

In order to orient the working means provided by the working platform, this working means is connected to the basic body by connecting means such that it can be moved between working positions. Working means is to be understood as any means which can be provided for the work which is to be carried out from a working platform. This is usually a working surface or installation panel. The working surface provides means from which an operator standing thereon can hold and/or operate a tool. An installation panel is suitable for accommodating a tool by the latter being connected, for example, to the installation panel or being positioned on the installation panel. However, a working means may also be an actual tool, for example a drilling tool, which is retained in the working position on the basic body via the connecting means.

The connecting means are preferably provided such that, rather than producing a rigid connection between the working means and the basic body, they allow the working means to move relative to the basic body. The working means can thus be moved into the correct working position. It is also possible, however, for the working means to be moved gradually into a number of working positions, and for work to be carried out in these positions, from a working platform once the latter has been supported on the vertical surface. Thus, the connecting means may allow pivoting, rotation or height adjustment of the working means. It is also possible for the connecting means to allow only pivoting, rotation or height adjustment. It is preferable, however, to provide connecting means which allow combinations of these types of movement. The connecting means preferably allow the movements to take place in a stepless manner, with the result that the working means can be moved precisely into the working position. The movement capabilities of the working means additionally make it possible to avoid obstructions, for example climbing irons, on the vertical surface when the working means is moved to the working location.

The working platform according to the invention can be used wherever work at a working location has to be carried out, for example, on a vertical surface. The vertical surfaces are usually side walls of a shaft or of a trench, but may also be the vertical boundary surfaces of other areas. Vertical surfaces here are to be understood not just as plumb surfaces, but also as essentially vertical surfaces on which it is not possible to position conventional working platforms with positioning feet. In particular, the working platform can also be used in a shaft of which the center longitudinal axis is oriented at small angles to the vertical.

Supporting means are understood as means which are suitable for supporting a working means directly or indirectly on a vertical surface. This may be a strut which supports the basic body from beneath and is located at an angle to the vertical, with the result that it is supported on the vertical surface beneath the basic body. It is preferable, however, for the basic body to be retained by a plurality of supporting means which are supported on opposite vertical surfaces, for example shaft walls. The basic body is preferably retained by a friction fit. For this purpose, the supporting means have to be arranged such that they butt, at least in part, in a planar manner against the vertical surface. The surface of the working means is preferably designed so as to produce a good frictional resistance against the working means slipping off vertically.

The supporting means are preferably arranged on the basic body. However, it is also possible for them to be provided on the working means connected to the basic body and to support these working means directly. In the case of such an arrangement, the basic body is used predominantly for providing a point of engagement for means for lowering the working platform into the desired position. The actual operation of fixing the working means in the desired position then takes place via the supporting means provided on the working means.

The supporting means thus preferably have supporting panels. These serve for bearing in a planar manner on the vertical surface and supporting the basic body. They may be connected to the basic body such that they can be adapted in terms of orientation in order, even in the case of non-plumb vertical surfaces, to allow planar bearing on the vertical surface. In the case of a plurality of supporting means, the supporting panel at least of one supporting means is preferably connected to the basic body via movement means, for the retraction and extension of the supporting panel relative to the basic body. This makes it possible for the working platform to be capable of being lowered into the shaft through a narrow opening, for example a shaft opening, with the supporting means drawn in and for it to allow good support of the basic body by virtue of the supporting means being extended at the envisaged working location, even in the case of large shaft cross sections. In addition, a working platform, with retractable and extendable supporting means also makes it possible for the working platform to be supported eccentrically in a shaft. This takes place by virtue of the supporting means being extended to different extents. Moreover, a working platform can be supported in different surroundings, for example different shaft geometries, since the retractable and extendable supporting means can be adapted to good effect to the surroundings of the working location.

Movement means are means which make it possible to move the supporting panel relative to the basic body and to fix it in a supporting position relative to the basic body. These means are usually telescopic elements, for example a cylinder/piston element. It is also possible, however, to provide a shank which is retained in a releasable manner in a clamp.

In order to ensure that the support is particularly reliable, the supporting means preferably has fastening means for connection to the vertically running surfaces. These fastening means may be connectors, anchors, nails or spikes. The fastening means may be arranged on elements of the supporting means which are provided specifically for them, although they are preferably provided in conjunction with a supporting panel and fix the latter on the vertical surface.

Good easy-to-handle movement of the working means is achieved if the connecting means provided is at least one telescopic element. Depending on the orientation of the telescopic element, the working means thus connected to the basic body can be moved vertically, obliquely or horizontally and retained in the desired working position. It is preferable for a plurality of telescopic elements to be connected in an articulated manner to the working means at different points, with the result that the working means can also be pivoted into differently oriented working positions and retained there.

As an alternative, or in addition, a rotary arrangement is also provided as connecting means. This rotary arrangement can rotate the working means into the desired working position, for example about a vertical axis. The connecting means may also be arranged such that the telescopic elements are connected to the rotary arrangement, with the result that the working means can be both rotated into the working position and pivoted.

According to one embodiment of the working platform according to the invention, a pivoting arm is provided as connecting arm. This pivoting arm bears the working means and is connected to the basic body. The pivoting arm may be mounted in a rotatable manner in the basic body. It may be designed such that it can be pivoted about its point of connection to the basic body. It is preferably of multi-part and multi-jointed design, with the result that it can be moved with numerous degrees of freedom in order to bring the working means into the desired position.

For safeguarding purposes, the working platform may have a securing line for connection to a securing point located above the working platform. The securing line serves for retaining the working platform if the support by means of the supporting means should fail. A securing line may be a cable, in particular a steel cable, a chain or some other means that can be guided in a flexible manner from the working platform to a securing point. A securing point may be a fastening point, for example a climbing iron, in a shaft. It is also possible, however, to use fastening points outside a shaft, for example anchor elements rammed into the ground alongside the shaft opening, as the securing point. It is likewise possible to use a ring which is located around the shaft opening, and the diameter of which is larger than the shaft opening, as the securing point.

In a preferred configuration, the working platform has at least one cushion which is provided on a side of a supporting means which is directed toward the shaft wall. This air cushion can assist uniform introduction of the necessary supporting force into the shaft wall. As a result, the differently configured shaft walls, damage to the shaft walls by the punctiform introduction of forces is avoided.

A cushion is to be understood as any cushion which can be arranged between a supporting means and a shaft wall and which evens out the introduction of forces into the shaft walls. In particular, air cushions are medium-filled cushions, in particular with flexible boundary walls. The medium may be air, but also any other medium which flows freely in the cushion, for example a fluid or a granular material. In particular, the cushion may also consist of foam or other compressible media.

The cushion preferably has the same peripheral dimensions as that surface of the supporting means, for example of the supporting panel, which is directed toward the shaft wall. It is also possible, however, for the cushion to be of any other form and to be designed, for example, as a ring or torus which encloses the working platform. The air cushion preferably has a form which is adapted to that of the shaft wall. The cushion can thus introduce the supporting force into the wall to particularly good effect over a large surface area.

Although the invention which has been explained above can be used at a multiplicity of use locations, the working platform according to the invention is particularly preferably used for producing connections, in particular service connections, for example for fiber-optics cables, in a shaft. For this purpose, use has always been made to date of a working platform which is seated on the shaft floor and, in order to be constructed, has required people to climb into the shaft and has had to be constructed from the shaft floor.

The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a working platform according to the invention in a first working position;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the working platform from FIG. 1 in a second working position;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the working platform from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a further working platform according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a working platform according to the invention with an air cushion.

FIG. 1 shows a working platform 1 with a basic body 2 on which two supporting means 3 a, 3 b are fastened. A working means 5 in the form of an installation panel with a cradle is connected to the basic body 2 via a connecting means 4. A drilling tool 6 with a drill pipe 7 is connected to the working means 5. The working platform 1 is inserted into a shaft 8 and is supported on the shaft walls 9. Securing lines 10 are connected, at one end, to the working platform 1 and, by the other end, to a securing point 11 in the form of a ring positioned over the shaft opening 12.

The connecting means 4 is designed as a telescopic element in the form of a cylinder/piston element which allows vertical movement of the working means 5 relative to the basic body 2 and can retain the working means 5 in a working position relative to the basic body 2.

The basic body 2 is in the form of a cylinder with a supporting means 3 a in the form of a supporting panel fastened at one end. A movement means 13 in the form of a piston is introduced into the basic body 2 and, at its end which is directed away from the basic body 2, has a supporting means 3 b in the form of a supporting panel. The supporting means 3 b can be retracted and extended relative to the basic body 2 by way of the cylinder/piston connection between the movement means 13 and basic body 2.

In order to install the working platform 1 according to the invention in the shaft 8, it is lowered into the shaft through the shaft opening 12, by means of the securing lines 10, with the supporting means 3 b retracted. At the desired position, the supporting means 3 b is extended out of the basic body 2, by virtue of the movement means 13 being extended, until, along with the supporting means 3 a, it gives rise to clamping in the shaft 8 which retains the working platform 1 in the desired position in the shaft 8. From this position, the working means 5 is moved into the desired working position via the connecting means 4 by virtue of the cylinder/piston element being extended or retracted. In the working position, a connection hole 14 can be drilled into the shaft wall 9 by way of the drill pipe 7 of the drilling tool 6. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the working means 5, for working at a different working location, can be moved into a different working position, by virtue of the connecting means 4 being extended further, without the clamping position of the basic body 2 having to be changed.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the working means 5. The drilling tool 6, arranged on the working means 5, with drill pipe 7 is arranged in a position in which it has been rotated in relation to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This change in orientation of the drill pipe 7 is achieved by virtue of the drilling tool being repositioned on the working means 5. However, it is also possible to achieve the change in orientation of the drill pipe 7 by virtue of the working means being rotated relative to the basic body 2.

The possibility, which is only restricted by the type and extending length of the connecting means 4, of freely selecting the working position relative to the basic body 2 allows free selection of the location at which the basic body 2 is supported on the vertical wall. Irrespective of the working position which is to be reached, the basic body 2 can be supported in a position which is particularly well-suited for supporting purposes, because the vertical surface there is, for example, particularly stable or has a high coefficient of friction. Moreover, it is possible to reach a large number of working locations from one position, with the result that there is no need to reposition the basic body 2.

In the case of the working platform 21 with a basic body 22 which is shown in FIG. 4, supporting means 23 a, 23 b are provided directly on the working means 25. The working means 25 is connected to the basic body 22 via connecting means 24. The working means 25 has a drilling tool 26. For positioning the working platform 21 in the shaft 8, the working platform is lowered into the desired position, through the shaft opening 12, by way of securing lines 30 fastened on it. In this position, the securing lines 30 are secured at a securing point 31 outside the shaft and retain the working platform 21. In this position of the basic body, the working means 25 is moved into a desired orientation by the connecting means 24. The working means 25 is then retained in this orientation by supporting means 23 a, 23 b. For this purpose, the supporting means 23 a, 23 b are supported on the shaft wall 9.

With the same designations being maintained for the same structural parts, FIG. 5 shows a working platform 1 with a basic body 2 on which two supporting means 3 a, 3 b are fastened. Air cushions 40 are arranged between the supporting means 3 a, 3 b and the shaft wall 9. As a result of these air cushions, the supporting force which is introduced by the supporting means 3 a, 3 b is introduced uniformly into the shaft wall 9. 

1. A working platform for drilling tools or the like, having a basic body, having supporting means for directly or indirectly supporting the working platform on an essentially vertically running surface, and having a working means, e.g. a drilling tool, which is connected to the basic body by connecting means such that it can be moved between working positions.
 2. A working platform for drilling tools or the like, having a basic body, on which is provided a supporting means for direct or indirect support on an essentially vertically running surface, and having a working means, e.g. a drilling tool, which is connected to the basic body by connecting means such that it can be moved between working positions.
 3. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that two supporting means are provided and have supporting panels, and in that, at least in the case of one supporting means, the supporting panel is connected to the basic body via movement means, for the retraction and extension of the supporting panels relative to the basic body.
 4. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supporting means has fastening means for connection to the vertically running surface.
 5. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the working means is an installation panel.
 6. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the working means is a drilling tool.
 7. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means provided is at least one telescopic element.
 8. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means provided is a rotary arrangement.
 9. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means provided is a pivoting arm.
 10. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a securing line for connecting the working platform to a securing point located above the working platform.
 11. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized by fastening on the shaft wall using connectors, anchors, nails, spikes or the like.
 12. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized by at least one cushion or air cushion which is provided on a side of a supporting means which is directed toward the shaft wall.
 13. The working platform as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the air cushion has a form which is adapted to the shaft wall.
 14. Use of a working platform as claimed in claim 1, for producing connections in a vertical shaft.
 15. A method of working on side walls or of producing connections in a vertical shaft, characterized by the operation of lowering a working platform, fixing the working platform on the walls of the shaft and carrying out the work from the working platform.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 14, characterized by the operation of drilling from the working platform.
 17. The working platform as claimed claim 2, characterized in that two supporting means are provided and have supporting panels, and in that, at least in the case of one supporting means, the supporting panel is connected to the basic body via movement means, for the retraction and extension of the supporting panels relative to the basic body.
 18. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the supporting means has fastening means for connection to the vertically running surface.
 19. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the working means is an installation panel.
 20. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the working means is a drilling tool.
 21. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the connecting means provided is at least one telescopic element.
 22. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the connecting means provided is a rotary arrangement.
 23. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the connecting means provided is a pivoting arm.
 24. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized by a securing line for connecting the working platform to a securing point located above the working platform.
 25. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized by fastening on the shaft wall using connectors, anchors, nails, spikes or the like.
 26. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized by at least one cushion or air cushion which is provided on a side of a supporting means which is directed toward the shaft wall.
 27. The working platform as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the air cushion has a form which is adapted to the shaft wall. 